The visiting side took a safety-first approach, grafting its way to 256 for four at stumps on day one of the Plunket Shield match.
The Volts have not won a four-day match in more than a year and a-half and, with two losses and a draw this summer, the side has been left with little alternative but to attack if it wants to revive its flagging prospects.
But the home side grassed too many chances, especially after lunch.
And to make matters worse, its leading bowler this season, Sam Wells, left the field with a shoulder injury and is unlikely to bowl when the match resumes today.
"We are unsure to the extent of the injury," Otago coach Mike Hesson said. We'll wait 24 to 48 hours to see how it settles but he is unlikely to bowl [today]."
Wells has been in fine touch, picking up 14 wickets, including two five-wicket bags.
He managed 11.2 overs before he was forced to leave the field.
While Otago will be disappointed it only took four wickets, Hesson said Wellington's slow scoring rate meant the match had not advanced much.
"We created enough opportunities but we need to back it up in the field when we get chances."
Cameron Merchant lived an charmed life after lunch, offering Otago several opportunities, the easiest of which Ian Butler fumbled at square leg after the ball was spooned in his direction.
Merchant's luck eventually ran out on 42 when he dragged a wide delivery from Greg Todd on to his stumps.
Unfortunately, for Otago, he helped add 94 for the third wicket with fellow left-hander Josh Brodie.
The home set attacking fields and employed four slips and a gully for most of the early session.
Wellington skipper Matthew Bell gave umpire Derek Walker one of the easiest decisions he will make in first-class cricket.
Moments after scratching out his mark, Bell froze and inexplicably shouldered arms to a straight delivery from Neil Wagner which would have clattered into middle and off had his pads not intervened.
With the match one delivery old veteran Neal Parlane trudged out to the middle to join Brodie.
And they guided their side to 36 for one drinks.
Wagner, who had been toiling away from the Coronet Peak end, switched ends and struck shortly after the break.
Parlane got an edge through to the keeper, leaving Wellington two for 39.
Brodie and Merchant started on the repair job and were content to accumulate their runs in ones and twos.
With an attacking field employed there were plenty of gaps and the left-handers nudged and deflected their runs.
Brodie brought up his fourth 50 with a nicely executed cut shot through backward point off Wells.
But on 76 he was deceived by a nicely flighted delivery from Nick Beard which beat the outside edge and bowled him.
Debutant Stewart Rhodes and Luke Woodcock continued with the policy of defence first.
Rhodes occasionally cast aside the shackles to caress a straight boundary and hooked Wagner for six in a rare moment of aggression.
The 23-year-old Australian-born left-hander squeezed a single into the leg side to bring up his maiden 50 and will resume unbeaten on 64 with Luke Woodcock at the wicket with him on 34.
